G7 ministers emphasize unity despite China-Russia concerns. On Tuesday, the Group of Seven industrial countries declared they were more unified than ever as they criticized China’s pressure on Taiwan and Russia’s threat to station nuclear weapons in Belarus while fighting in Ukraine.
“The strength of the solidarity between the G7 foreign ministers is at a level not seen before,” Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference after hosting the gathering in Karuizawa.
The unity comes after French President Emmanuel Macron this month suggested the EU should minimize its dependence on the US and avoid getting involved in a Taiwan conflict.
Beijing considers Taiwan Chinese territory and will use force to seize the democratic island. However, President Tsai Ing-wen believes only the Taiwanese can decide their future.
The G7 communiqué notes that the three-day summit focused on Russian military intervention and Chinese threats to Taiwan.
The US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canada called Russia’s threat to place nuclear weapons in Belarus “unacceptable.” “Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine would have severe consequences,” it stated.
Because NATO was moving toward Russia, President Vladimir Putin announced last month that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons.
Russia suggested stationing nuclear assets in another country for the first time since the Cold War ended three decades ago, heightening its standoff with the West over Ukraine.
G7 ministers also supported Taiwan Strait peace and opposed South China Sea militarization. They demanded international responsibility from Beijing.
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